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Moral Strength

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Every day, the compound is quiet.

The trial is still pending for the past two weeks, which felt like a month. Itachi and Sasuke have been doing activities in their home, such as ninja training. It may sound like a bleak environment, but they are doing their best to keep things hopeful.

Sasuke is in his now clean bedroom, looking at old pictures of his family. In his days under house arrest, he collected dust particles and grime in every spot with the help of his brother. He also rearranged some stuff to make it look less kiddish. Sasuke gathered his toys and ninja comic books in a box where he'll save them for future purposes. His room looks more minimalistic with a cozy atmosphere.

He wanted to go back and see the life where he was once a cheerful boy. Sasuke came across one where he and Mikoto were at a festival because he remembered begging for Itachi to join him. But he was busy as usual. So instead, Mikoto decided to go to the event with her youngest son. They wore kimonos and watched the fireworks as they colored the night sky. It was a heartwarming moment that he wished to last longer.

Sasuke comes to realize how much he'd smiled.

In each photo, he is smiling widely. As if there was only joy and peace in the world. He admits to himself mentally that he misses his old life. However, there was a peak where it came back. His friends and beautiful lover were trying to bring in the light and not make him stay in the darkness.

Sasuke knows blaming Itachi was the right thing because his brother accepted it. Even though it was the brutal truth, he couldn't even imagine how he would turn out if he did kill Itachi. His life and the relationship with the people he knows and loves would be a living hell. Or possibly worse.

The youngest Uchiha of all could be the one to bring a change to his clan. Sasuke doesn't consider himself a perfect candidate to be a hero. He just knows what is good and evil. He may not be like Naruto, but they do share other similarities. Aside from their rough childhood.

"Knock, knock," Itachi spoke to have his little brother's attention. He stands by the doorframe with a blank expression.

Sasuke pulls his gaze away from the photobook. "What?" He asked him, closing the item in his hands. Itachi sighs, and it does not sound good. "We don't have any food." He stated bluntly. Sasuke lets out a groan. Restricted from purchasing supplies is a nightmare.

Within those two weeks, Misa has been delivering them food and beverages. She did promise them, and the brothers are so thankful. At this point, they are going to lose their sanity.

But then a lightbulb lit up because Itachi thought of something that'll risk his brother's life.

"How about I stay here, and you go to Misa." He suggested, which made Sasuke look at him bewildered. Like he already lost his mind or something. However, the raven does want to rebel at some point. "Are you sure this is a good idea?" Sasuke questions once more. Itachi lets out a chuckle. "You know how to conceal your chakra, and you did break into the village. So, go for it. I'll make sure no one comes here." He is giving the boy moral support, but in a way that is out of the ordinary.

Sasuke keeps staring at Itachi like he is some other person. This can't be my brother, right? He thought to himself.

After a few minutes, Sasuke nodded. "Okay, I'll do it," He said. Even though he still wants to see Misa because staying in a house with his brother can get boring. Itachi puts on a grin, "Great! Just wear a cloak and try not to act suspicious." He tells Sasuke. It's ironic because when he came to Konoha with Kisame, they both looked more cynical at first glance.

Eventually, the raven is on his feet. Sasuke has improved in his momentum by making it faint without getting noticed. Swift but silent. He also practiced taking in a vast amount of chakra can benefit him during a battle.

Sasuke knows Misa is one of the top shinobis who can do chakra control better than him. Maybe he should take some training lessons from her.

The black hoodie over his head covers his face. It flows whenever he scatters and jumps from roof to roof on buildings. Sasuke is starting to have a thing for cloaks. He is not into fashion, but it feels and looks appealing, he must say.

As soon as he arrives at Misa's house, he wants to do a surprise. She is not going to be happy. Sasuke takes a glimpse from her open window. She is on her bed, reading a book, and dressed in comfortable clothing. He has to confess that she looks adorable in a t-shirt and skirt. Sasuke shakes his head. What is he thinking? She always looks perfect!

Misa was so engrossed in her reading that she didn't sense his chakra signature. It felt like he wasn't even standing on the top of her house.

"Hey, Misa."

A husky voice called out her name.

She flinched and almost grabbed the kunai knife in her tool pouch by the nightstand. She glares intensely at Sasuke. He was smiling at her like an innocent kid.

"What are you doing here?!" Misa whispered angrily. She tried to keep her voice at a low level. The Uchiha is sitting on her window frame—looking mysterious. It felt like a deja-vu when Sasuke first snuck into the village. Misa gets up to approach him with a frown.

Sasuke tries his hardest not to laugh because she looks like an upset bunny.

"Let's go out together. I understand it's a stupid thing to do, but I want to spend more time with you." The dark-haired boy tries to persuade her to join him. Misa is still giving him a negative. Sasuke adds another reason. "Itachi and I need more food in our house." He convinced her, and it did.

Misa takes a deep breath, "All right. Bring me back before nightfall. Understood?" She points her finger at him. Sasuke obediently nodded.

He offers a hand, and she takes it.

✧: *.☽ .* ✧

They are walking in the main street as people pass by them.

Even though what they are doing now is not safe, they do miss each other. Misa is constantly helping the brothers. She hasn't told her friends yet because she wasn't sure if there was an appropriate time to speak about it.

"How are Naruto and everyone else?" Sasuke goes right into the topic. Misa has on a solemn face. She began to speak, "They are still grieving about Jiraiya-sama, Naruto especially." She leans against his warm chest, and he wraps an arm around her delicate shoulders. She needed comfort because it had been devastating for Leaf shinobis. Misa told Itachi and Sasuke about the tragedy right after the announcement got released.

Naruto's respect for Jiraiya is significant. The same goes for Sasuke when it comes to Orochimaru. Even though he never shows it. Misa continues talking, "Naruto was furious at Tsunade-sama after being told about his master. He even admitted that if Jiraiya-sama were to be Hokage, he wouldn't let her go. Kakashi sensei, Sakura, and I got upset by his statement. We didn't expect Naruto to say that." The girl has it replaying in her head. Her friend walked out with a negative spirit.

Sasuke was shocked on the inside. It was unlike anything Naruto would do.

"Where is he at now?" The raven questions more about him.

"Soon after the announcement, Naruto went under Fukasaku's wing, one of the heirs of the Great Toad Sage. He is training in Mount Myōboku to succeed in Senjutsu," Misa replies. For a toad, Fukasaku is beyond belief in how long he has lived and is wise-minded. Sasuke knitted his brows into a bemused look. He knows what Senjutsu is because of Orochimaru. His master discovered the Ryūchi Cave and gained the ability. However, it wasn't a success to withstand the transformation. He then made the Curse Mark.

Naruto is aiming to accomplish the Sage Mode. He wants vengeance.

"I understand that everyone will be overwhelmed and afraid, but we should be stepping up our game." Sasuke wants his comrades to build confidence and growth. "We are not trying to impress anyone. It's to show that we care." He never used his words for people to hear because it does sound cliché. However, it is reasonable to follow.

She pulls her face away from his chest. "Remember our promise? We protect each other until the very end. If danger comes, I will not let anything happen to you." Misa forms an oath. The Uchiha gets speechless. He hears a girl say that she'll risk her life for him. It's not just any other girl, though. It's his angel, and she is talking about courage.

Sasuke looks at her lovingly. "Thank you, Misa. I'll do the same thing." He is grateful, and he'll never stop appreciating her. She smiles ear to ear. The girl stands on her tippy-toes to kiss his cheek.

Once arriving at the market, Misa kept dragging Sasuke into different sections because she wanted Itachi and him to eat well. Not to mention, it is their first grocery shopping. In all honesty, it's tiring. Misa grabs it and goes while Sasuke carries them as he trails behind her.

"I think this is enough, hime." Sasuke could barely see over the stack of meats, veggies, and fruits. Misa immediately denies it. "Nope. You still need drinks." She reached for a variety pack of juice, water, and soda. She places them on top of everything.

Sasuke didn't expect her to go all out.

Luckily, he survived the shopping trip with loads of bags. Misa carried some because she didn't want to be a burden.

Midday has arrived, and the bright blue sky changes to a fire-like gradient with misty pink clouds. The lovers are currently going to the compound. Misa hoped that her family doesn't find out that she was not in her bedroom.

"Have you talked to people about our engagement?" Sasuke asked out of the blue. He had no ring and didn't get down on one knee, which is technically not a proposal. But Misa loved it. She knew Sasuke had his ways of showing his true feelings.

The ebony-haired beauty shook her head. "I have not. I want to take some time to readjust and think of other things." Misa revealed that she hasn't been doing well. Sasuke gives a worried look because she is usually stubborn to admit it. Sort of like him.

Misa lifts her head to meet his obsidian gaze. "But, I want you to tell my parents." She said. It confused Sasuke. "Why?" He wondered. "It's because I want them to accept you. I want them to love and cherish you, Sasuke-kun." Misa explained in short.

Sasuke becomes stunned. "If I do it, are you going to be there while that's happening?" The raven is a bit concerned. Misa gives him a hopeful look. "I will! I don't even think you'll come out breathing afterward. You always need me." She sounded sarcastic even though she was being honest.

He hates how she is correct in every way. Well, he must be lying if he doesn't fear anything. One of them is trying to receive her parents' blessings for an Uchiha with no good manners. As a response, Sasuke nods his head.

"Okay. I'll go to your parents once everything gets back to normal." He avowed to the love of his life.

Misa lets out a lively laugh. "Is the stone-cold Uchiha Sasuke now a scaredy-cat?" She teases him. He heard that one a while ago, and it did offend him. However, when Misa said it, he reacted the opposite. The petite girl can see him with a light blush on his cheeks, all flustered. She is internally screaming. He is so damn cute!

Sasuke tries to hide it underneath his hoodie, but a subtle smile curves his lips. Guess he is afraid of some things.

✧: *.☽ .* ✧

Pain has discovered your betrayal. Zetsu was the one who was tracking you down ever since you reunited with your brother. That bastard had the boldness to spy on you. Forgive me for not being cautious. I, unfortunately, can't do much because I have to respect orders to keep myself alive. Anyway, stay safe out there, Itachi.

From, Kisame.

A callous hand clutches the small paper into a fist. The man can feel his blood boiling. Before it all happened, he wanted Pain to believe he was dead and that Sasuke was the one who killed him. Everyone in the Akatsuki knew about the despair of the Uchiha brothers.

If Itachi hadn't known about Kisame's warning, he would've been unprepared.

He rubs his face with his hand to ease the stress. He is tired, tired of being a liar. He pretends to be someone else for the sake of his brother's life. Itachi expected and wanted Sasuke to hate him. Show him pure enmity.

But the love was strong.

No matter how much Itachi was displeased with Sasuke's change of thought, he felt grateful to make him understand. Plus, he wants to explore more of Nanami in his life. They've shared memories, but Itachi would instead make new ones.

"I'm home!"

A familiar voice spoke out loud. The older brother smiles and perks. He puts the note into his pocket and goes to the front door. Itachi sees Sasuke and Misa had the groceries. "Did you two buy everything from the store?" Itachi questions. He puts on a quizzical face. Sasuke sighs, "You said we needed food. Well, here we have them." The boy steps inside to place the bags in the kitchen. Misa followed him like a puppy.

Itachi becomes amused by them. Two lovebirds helping each other is precious. He has been teasing his brother for quite some time, and it never gets old.

"Now that you guys have food, enjoy your meals." Misa smiles jovially. Sasuke goes up to her and brings a hug. "It was a nice trip to the market." He says in her ear. She can feel her face heating like fire. They're giving each other affection in front of Itachi, who is enjoying the sweet moment.

Her delicate arms get wrapped around his toned waist. "Have a lovely evening, Sasuke-kun." Misa pecks his neck. Her soft voice brought so much solace that makes him feel calm.

Right when the couple separated, Sasuke watched Misa leave the house. His ear picks up the sound of laughter. He frowns and veers to face his obnoxious brother. "Don't say it." The boy spoke through his gritted teeth. The older one raises his hands in mid-air. "I didn't say anything," Itachi smirked.

"Let's start having dinner." Sasuke exists the kitchen to go to his room.

Throughout the night, a tasty aroma filled the house. Itachi made too much, but more fun with the dishes.

Subsequently, a brand new day has begun. The first thing that the brothers do is some training. Itachi demonstrated Amaterasu on a log. Sasuke grew intrigued; "fires from hell" is another way to interpret it. He witnessed the wood burn into ash like a regular flame.

Sasuke can see the uniqueness of Itachi. Every Uchiha is different, and they possess incredible abilities. He wonders if he'll be powerful as his relatives.

Then all of a sudden, Itachi stops what he was doing. He can sense chakra signatures in the compound. They were coming to the house. "Should we go check it out?" Sasuke asked him. He is also aware of it. "I'll go and see," Itachi spoke in an earnest tone. Sasuke watches his brother leave the backyard. Itachi moves his feet to the entranceway and spots more than one silhouette from the light door. He opens it without thinking or letting them knock. He relaxed his tense shoulders.

"Tsunade-sama. What brings you here?" Itachi queried about the Hokage and the Anbu members' appearance.

Her coral lips open to speak, "The elders, the investigation team, and I want to finalize the trial. So, you and Sasuke will be getting the results." Tsunade declared. Itachi's eyes widened owlishly. It's time to meet with some old faces.

The elegant sound of a waterfall soothes the blonde boy's ears. His tanned, lean body is glimmering under the luminous sun. A pair of azure orbs shined like jewels. Naruto has come a long way in his life. He is going to make an oath for everyone to believe that he is their hero.

"Just wait for me, my friends."

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Author's Note
My bby Naruto is becoming a god 🥺❤️‍🔥 the pain arc is one of my fav parts of the story and i hope you all stay tuned for my version of it bc i just know it's going to be fun ✌🏼 our beloved couple had a grocery shopping moment which i love bc it's to show there can be some happy times under heavy circumstances. the dynamic between itachi and kisame is one of my fav writings and i am glad to hear that some readers do enjoy it as well. let me know your thoughts on this chapter and what theories that you came up with for future updates 😊